Kyra Lobbins, Clemson University’s deputy chief of staff, has accepted a position as chief of staff with Adler University in Chicago, Illinois. She will be leaving Clemson in mid-May.
“I’ve had the opportunity to work closely with Kyra since she became the director of the President’s Leadership Institute in 2015. Her remarkable work ethic and ability to lead and develop others is evident in everything she does. I have no doubt she will be very successful in her new position,” said President Jim Clements. “She has been a valued member of the University’s leadership team, and her dedication, passion and hard work have made a tremendous impact at Clemson.”
Lobbins will serve as chief of staff for Adler’s Chicago and Vancouver, Canada campuses and online programs, reporting directly to the president of the University. She will be responsible for providing support and counsel to the president and key leaders, serving as Adler’s board secretary and overseeing cross-functional organization-wide initiatives.
“I’m grateful for the opportunities I’ve been afforded at Clemson, and most importantly, being able to work for President Clements and Vice President and Chief of Staff Max Allen, who are both phenomenal leaders,” said Lobbins. “I’m looking forward to taking everything I’ve learned here and making a difference at Adler by providing others with similar opportunities I’ve been presented with at Clemson. This was a hard decision, but Clemson is now a large part of who I am — and will always be a second home to me.”
Named Clemson’s deputy chief of staff in 2019, Lobbins has served as a member of the University’s Executive Leadership Team, working closely with President Clements, Chief of Staff Max Allen and other leaders across campus on strategic initiatives. She has been an active member in the community on Clemson’s behalf, representing the University on community boards such as the Greenville Chamber Advisory Board and Ten at the Top. Lobbins also played an integral role with the President’s Advisory Board, comprised of 20 senior corporate executives from across the country.
After joining the University in 2013 as the assistant director of Student-Athlete Development, Lobbins quickly began making her mark and was named the director of Student-Athlete Development in 2015. Providing impactful programming in the areas of personal, career and leadership development, Lobbins collaborated with others on campus and developed a dynamic culture for student-athletes. In 2015, the President’s Office also tapped her to develop the President’s Leadership Institute, the University’s preeminent leadership development program for top-performing faculty and staff. Now in its fifth year, the program has been recognized nationally and resulted in a 70 percent advancement rate for participants.